Window with selectively writable image(s) and method of making same

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a writable window (e.g., IG window unit), where images (e.g., advertisements, logos, designs, pictures and/or words) can be selectively written into the window and are designed to be viewed by humans and/or animals. A substrate (e.g., glass substrate) supports a solar coating such as a low emissivity (low-E) coating which may include at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or including silver that is located on and directly contacting a contact/seed layer of or including a material such as zinc oxide and/or zinc stannate. A radiation source (e.g., laser(s) and/or lamp(s)) may be used to selectively expose certain areas of the coating to radiation (e.g., UV radiation). The exposed area(s) of the coating, after being exposed and heated, have different optical characteristic(s) (e.g., higher visible transmission) than the area(s) of the coating not exposed to the radiation, so that following the laser exposure the exposed area(s) form an image(s) designed to be viewed by humans and/or animals.

Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a writable window,where an image (e.g., advertisement, logo, design, picture, pattern,and/or word) can be selectively written into the window and is/aredesigned to be viewed by humans and/or animals. For example, the imagesmay be designed to be viewed by humans, and/or may be designed to beviewed by animals such as birds so that birds can more easily see thewindow(s) in order to prevent or reduce bird collisions with windows. Incertain example embodiments, the window may comprise an insulating glass(IG) window unit, or alternatively a monolithic window. At least onesubstrate (e.g., glass substrate) of the window supports a solar coatingsuch as a low-emissivity (low-E) coating. The solar coating (e.g., low-Ecoating) in IG and monolithic embodiments may include at least oneinfrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising or consisting essentially ofsilver, where the silver inclusive layer may be located on and directlycontacting a contact/seed layer comprising or consisting essentially ofa material such as zinc oxide and/or zinc stannate. A radiationsource(s) such as a laser(s) and/or lamp(s) may be used to selectivelyexpose certain areas of the coating to radiation (e.g., UV radiation).The exposed area(s) of the coating have different opticalcharacteristic(s) (e.g., reduced visible reflectance and/or highervisible transmission) than the area(s) of the coating not exposed to theradiation, so that following the radiation exposure the exposed area(s)form an image(s) designed to be viewed by humans and/or animals. In sucha manner, images may be selectively written onto coated glass to be usedin windows such as architectural windows for office buildings and/orapartment buildings, windows for homes, windows for freezer doors,and/or vehicle windows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

IG window units are known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos.6,632,491, 6,014,872; 5,800,933; 5,784,853; 5,557,462; 5,514,476;5,308,662; 5,306,547; and 5,156,894, all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference. An IG window unit typically includesat least first and second substrates spaced apart from one another by atleast one spacer and/or seal. The gap or space between the spaced apartsubstrates may or may not be filled with a gas (e.g., argon) and/orevacuated to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure in differentinstances.

Many conventional IG window units include a solar management coating(e.g., multi-layer coating for reflecting at least some infraredradiation) on an interior surface of one of the two substrates. Such IGunits enable significant amounts of infrared (IR) radiation to beblocked so that it does not reach the interior of the building(apartment, house, office building, or the like).

It would be desirable to be able to form images on windows in anefficient manner, that one or more of: (i) does not significant affectthe durability of the coating, (ii) allows advertisements and/or logosto be selectively formed on windows in an aesthetically pleasing mannernot necessarily requiring stickers, (iii) enables animals such as birdsto more easily see the windows so as to reduce bird collisions withwindows, and/or (iv) allows customizable images to be formed on windowsfor buildings.

For instance, in Chicago certain buildings (e.g., skyscrapers) arelocated in migratory bird paths. Birds flying along these pathsrepeatedly run into these buildings because they cannot see the windowsof the building. This results in thousands of bird deaths, especiallyduring seasons of bird migration.

In view of the above, it will be appreciated that there exists a need inthe art for improved windows which can prevent or reduce bird collisionstherewith.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of this invention relates to a writable window,where an image (e.g., advertisement, logo, design, picture, pattern,and/or word) can be selectively written into the window and is/aredesigned to be viewed by humans and/or animals. For example, the imagesmay be designed to be viewed by humans, and/or may be designed to beviewed by animals such as birds so that birds can more easily see thewindow(s) in order to prevent or reduce bird collisions with windows. Incertain example embodiments, the window may comprise an insulating glass(IG) window unit, or alternatively a monolithic window. In IG windowunit embodiments, the IG window unit includes first and secondsubstrates (e.g., glass substrates) spaced apart from one another,wherein at least one of the substrates supports a solar coating such asa low-emissivity (low-E) coating. In monolithic window embodiments, asubstrate (e.g., glass substrate) supports a solar coating such as alow-E coating. The low-E coating in IG and monolithic embodiments mayinclude at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of or includingsilver, where the silver inclusive layer may be located on and directlycontacting a contact/seed layer of or including a material such as zincoxide and/or zinc stannate. A radiation source(s) such as a laser(s)and/or lamp(s) may be used to selectively expose certain areas of thecoating to radiation such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The exposedarea(s) of the coating have different optical characteristic(s) (e.g.,reduced visible reflectance and/or higher visible transmission) than thearea(s) of the coating not exposed to the radiation, so that followingthe exposure the exposed area(s) form an image(s) designed to be viewedby humans and/or animals. For example, UV exposure causes thecontact/seed layer and/or silver based layer to heat up in exposedareas. For instance, heating of the contact/seed layer causes theadjacent silver layer to also heat up in the exposed areas therebyphysically changing the silver layer in those areas so as to densify andcause the silver layer to become more conductive and more transparent tovisible light in the exposed areas. Thus, the physical and opticalproperties of the IR reflecting layer(s) (e.g., silver layer(s)) arechanged in the exposed areas. In such a manner, images may beselectively written onto coated glass to be used in windows such asarchitectural windows for office buildings and/or apartment buildings,windows for homes, windows for freezer doors, and/or vehicle windows.

In certain example embodiments of this invention, the image may bedesigned to be seen by birds so that birds can more easily see thewindow so as to prevent or reduce bird collisions therewith. By makingthe window more visible to birds in such a manner, bird collisions andthus bird deaths can be reduced.

In certain example embodiments, there is provided a method of making acoated article for use in a window, the method comprising: having acoated article including a coating supported by a substrate; directingultraviolet (UV) radiation toward the coating and exposing only part ofthe coating to UV radiation in order to form an image in the coatingthat can be seen by a human eye.

In the method of the immediately preceding paragraph, the image maycomprise a logo.

In the method of any of the preceding two paragraphs, the image maycomprise at least one word.

In the method of any of the preceding three paragraphs, the coating maycomprise at least one layer comprising silver that is located over anddirectly contacting a layer comprising metal oxide that absorbs UVradiation. The layer comprising metal oxide may have a bandgap of fromabout 3.15 to 3.4 eV, and/or may comprise zinc oxide and/or zincstannate. And the layer comprising silver may have a higher visibletransmission and/or reduced visible reflectance in area(s) exposed tothe UV radiation compared to area(s) of the coating not exposed to theUV radiation so that a shape of the image is substantially defined byarea(s) exposed to the UV radiation.

In the method of any of the preceding four paragraphs, the coating mayhave a sheet resistance (R_(s)) of no greater than 10 ohms/square, morepreferably no greater than 8 or 6 ohms/square.

In the method of any of the preceding five paragraphs, the coating maybe a low-E coating.

In the method of any of the preceding six paragraphs, the coated articlemay have a visible transmission of at least about 50% (more preferablyat least about 60%) before and/or after said exposing.

In the method of any of the preceding seven paragraphs, the substratemay be a glass substrate.

In the method of any of the preceding eight paragraphs, the method mayfurther comprise, after said exposing, coupling the substrate with thecoating thereon to another substrate in making an insulating glass (IG)window unit.

In the method of any of the preceding nine paragraphs, said UV radiationmay be directed toward the coating from at least one source of UVradiation. The source may comprise a UV emitting lamp and/or a UVemitting laser. The method may further include providing a mask betweenthe coating and the source of UV radiation so that opening(s) defined inthe mask determine which part of the coating is exposed to UV radiationfrom the source. Radiation emitted from the source may consistessentially of UV radiation.

In the method of any of the preceding ten paragraphs, the coating maycomprise at least one layer comprising silver located between at leastfirst and second dielectric layers.

In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is provided anIG window unit comprising: a first glass substrate; a second glasssubstrate spaced apart from the first glass substrate; a low-E coatinghaving sheet resistance (R_(s)) of no greater than 10 ohms/square, thelow-E coating supported by at least one of the glass substrates so as toface a gap located between the substrates; wherein the low-E coatingcomprises at least one layer comprising silver that is located over anddirectly contacting a layer comprising metal oxide that can absorbultraviolet (UV) radiation, wherein an image viewable by a human eye isformed in the low-E coating.

In the IG window unit of the immediately preceding paragraph, the layercomprising silver may have a higher visible transmission and/or reducedvisible reflectance in certain area(s) compared to other area(s) of thecoating so that a shape of the image is substantially defined by thearea(s) having the higher visible transmission and/or reduced visiblereflectance.

In the IG window unit of the immediately preceding paragraph, thearea(s) having the higher visible transmission and/or reduced visiblereflectance may be area(s) that were exposed to UV radiation from a UVsource (e.g., UV emitting laser or lamp), and the area(s) not having thehigher visible transmission and/or reduced visible reflectance may bearea(s) that were not so exposed.

In the IG window unit of any of the preceding three paragraphs, thelayer comprising metal oxide may have a bandgap of from about 3.15 to3.4 eV.

In the IG window unit of any of the preceding four paragraphs, the layercomprising metal oxide may comprise zinc oxide and/or zinc stannate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a technique used in making a windowaccording to an example embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a technique used in making a windowaccording to another example embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of an insulating glass (IG)window unit made using at least the technique of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a window including an image according to anexample embodiment of this invention (e.g., made and/or in accordancewith any of FIGS. 1-3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, certain embodiments of this invention relates toa writable window 10, where an image (e.g., advertisement, logo, design,picture, pattern, number, and/or word) 12 can be selectively writteninto the window where the image(s) is/are designed to be viewed byhumans and/or animals. For example, the images such as logo 12 in FIG. 4may be designed to be viewed by humans, and/or may be designed to beviewed by animals such as birds so that birds can more easily see thewindow(s) in order to prevent or reduce bird collisions with windows. Incertain example embodiments, the window may comprise an insulating glass(IG) window unit (e.g., see FIG. 3), or alternatively a monolithicwindow. In IG window unit embodiments, the IG window unit includes firstand second substrates (e.g., glass substrates) 1 and 3 spaced apart fromone another, wherein at least one of the substrates 1 supports a solarcoating 5 such as a low-emissivity (low-E) coating. In monolithic windowembodiments, a substrate (e.g., glass substrate) 1 supports a solarcoating 5 such as a low-E coating. The low-E coating 5 in IG andmonolithic embodiments may include at least one infrared (IR) reflectinglayer 11 of or including silver, where the silver inclusive layer 11 maybe located on and directly contacting a contact/seed layer 9 of orincluding a metal oxide based material such as zinc oxide and/or zincstannate. A radiation source 20 may be used to selectively exposecertain areas of the coating. In certain example embodiments, theradiation source(s) 20 may be a laser(s) and/or lamp(s). The radiationsource(s) 20 may be an ultraviolet (UV) laser and/or lamp for emittingUV radiation 21 in certain example embodiments, such as a UV excimer orUV solid state laser. The area(s) of the coating 5 exposed to theradiation (e.g., UV radiation) 21 have different opticalcharacteristic(s) (e.g., reduced visible reflectance and/or highervisible transmission) than the area(s) of the coating not exposed to theradiation, so that following the radiation exposure the exposed area(s)form an image(s) 12 designed to be viewed by humans and/or animals. Forexample, UV exposure causes the contact/seed layer 9 and/or silver basedlayer 11 in the coating to heat up in exposed areas. For instance,heating of the contact/seed layer 9 causes at least the adjacent silverlayer 11 to also heat up in the exposed areas thereby physicallychanging at least the silver layer(s) 11 in those areas so as to becomemore dense and cause the silver layer to become more conductive and moretransparent to visible light in the UV exposed areas. Thus, the physicaland optical properties of the IR reflecting layer(s) (e.g., silverlayer(s)) 11 are changed in the exposed areas. In such a manner, variousimages 12 may be selectively written onto coated glass to be used inwindows such as architectural windows for office buildings and/orapartment buildings, windows for homes, windows for freezer doors,and/or vehicle windows. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the “LOGO”area was exposed to radiation (e.g., UV radiation from a laser and/orlamp) 21 from the radiation source(s) 20 so that the “LOGO” area is moretransmissive to visible light than are non-exposed surrounding areas ofthe coating/window, and therefore “LOGO” can be visibly differentiatedby human and/or animal eyes from the other non-exposed areas of thewindow that were not exposed to radiation 21 from source(s) 20. The“LOGO” 12 in FIG. 4 could be, for example, an advertisement (e.g.,“Detroit Red Wings,” “Coke,” “Pepsi,” “Buick,” or any desirable pictureand/or wording). Any type of image 12 can be formed in such a manner byselective UV exposure of only part of the coating 5, including but notlimited to advertisements, logos, designs, pictures, patterns,numbering, and/or wording. For example, the image 12 could be any typeof picture and/or pattern (e.g., checkerboard pattern, criss-crosspattern, random pattern, etc.).

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a technique used in making a windowaccording to an example embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIG.1, there is provided a coated article including a glass substrate 1 thatsupports a solar control coating 5. While substrate 1 is preferably ofglass, it could be of other material. Example solar management/controlcoatings (e.g., low-E coatings) 5 which may be provided on substrate 1are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,173,263, 8,142,622, 8,124,237,8,101,278, 8,017,243, 7,998,320, 7,964,284, 7,897,260, 7,879,448,7,858,191, 7,267,879, 6,576,349, 7,217,461, 7,153,579, 5,800,933,5,837,108, 5,557,462, 6,014,872, 5,514,476, 5,935,702, 4,965,121,5,563,734, 6,030,671, 4,898,790, 5,902,505, 3,682,528, all of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference. In certain example embodiments,the solar management coating 5 may have an emissivity (E_(n)) of nogreater than 0.10 and/or a sheet resistance (R_(s)) of no greater than 8ohms/square. Of course, solar management coatings (e.g., low-E coatings)5 herein are not limited to these particular coatings, and any othersuitable solar management coatings capable of blocking amounts of IRradiation may instead be used. Solar management coatings 5 herein may bedeposited on substrate(s) 1 and/or 3 in any suitable manner, includingbut not limited to sputtering, vapor deposition, and/or any othersuitable technique.

A low-E coating typically includes at least one IR reflecting layer ofor including silver 11 sandwiched between at least a lower dielectric 7and an upper dielectric 15. The example low-E coating 5 in FIGS. 1-2 mayinclude, for example, a lower dielectric layer(s) 7 of or includingtitanium oxide or silicon nitride, a lower contact/seed layer 9 of orincluding zinc oxide (e.g., ZnO), zinc aluminum oxide, zinc stannate(e.g., ZnSnO), tin oxide, and/or combinations thereof, IR reflectinglayer 11 of or including silver or gold, upper contact layer 13 of orincluding Ni and/or Cr (e.g., NiCr, NiCrO_(x), NiO_(x), or the like)that is located over and directly contacting the silver based layer 11,and upper dielectric layer(s) 15 of or including silicon nitride and/ortin oxide. The metal oxide based contact/seed layer 9 may optionally bedoped with material such as Al, Ni or Ti. In certain exampleembodiments, dielectric layer 15 may be made up of a lower layer of orincluding tin oxide and an upper layer of or including silicon nitrideand/or silicon oxynitride. Optionally, an overcoat of or includingzirconium oxide may be provided over dielectric layer 15. The layers ofthe thin film coating 5 may be deposited in any suitable manner, such asat approximately room temperature via sputtering. While the low-Ecoating 5 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 has only one IR reflecting layer 11of or including silver, it will be appreciated that other low-E coatingsthat may be used for coating 5 may include multiple silver based IRreflecting layers as illustrated and/or described in some of the patentsidentified above.

One or more radiation source(s) 20 is/are provided in order to selectiveexpose only certain portions of the coated article to radiation such asUV radiation. For example, in the FIG. 1 embodiment, the source 20 maybe one or more UV lamp(s) that emit mainly UV radiation toward thecoated article. The UV may include radiation in the ranges of from about300-400 nm, or from about 300-380 nm, in certain example embodiments.Mask 22 is located between the source 20 and the coated article (1, 5)so that the UV radiation 21 emitted from the source 20 only exposescertain portions of the coating S. In particular, the mask 22 blocksand/or absorbs UV radiation from the source 20 so that only portions ofthe coating 5 which correspond to holes/apertures/gaps 23 in the mask 22are exposed to the UV radiation 21. In certain example embodiments, thesource 20 is located on the coating 5 side of the glass substrate 1 soas to reduce the amount that the glass substrate 1 itself is heated upduring the exposure (e.g., the glass is not intentionally heated by thesource 20). The UV radiation 21 emitted from the source 20 which makesit through/past the mask 22 causes the contact/seed layer 9 and silverbased layer 11 in the coating to heat up in exposed areas (the exposedareas of the coating 5 generally correspond to the locations of theholes/apertures/gaps in the mask). For instance, the seed layer 9absorbing the UV radiation and the resulting heating of the contact/seedlayer 9 causes at least the adjacent silver inclusive IR reflectinglayer 11 to also heat up in the exposed areas thereby physicallychanging at least the silver layer 11 in those areas so as to becomemore dense and cause the silver layer 11 to become more conductive andmore transparent to visible light in the UV exposed areas.

The contact/seed layer 9 (e.g., of or including zinc oxide and/or zincstannate) may have a bandgap of from about 3.0 to 3.4 eV, morepreferably from about 3.15 to 3.4 eV, and most preferably about 3.2 eV,and because of this bandgap the contact/seed layer 9 absorbs UVradiation 21 from the source 20 (e.g., about 355 nm and/or about 308 nm)and heats up. The seed layer 9 may be a semiconductor or dielectric. Atleast the silver in layer 11 in the exposed areas next to the heatedportions of layer 9 is in turn heated and physically changes in theheated area(s) by densifying and becoming more transparent to visiblelight and/or differently colored, and also by become more conductive.Thus, the characteristics of the layer stack are introduced as the UV isabsorbed by the seed/contact layer 9 with a subsequent release ofthermal energy to at least the adjacent silver (or gold) based layer 11and possible to other layer(s) in the stack. Accordingly, the physicaland optical properties of the IR reflecting silver layer 11 are changedin the UV exposed areas. The exposed area(s) will then have a differentvisible transmission and/or visible reflectance than non-exposedarea(s), and therefore the image(s) generally indicated by the exposedarea can then be seen by human eyes and/or animal eyes due to thecontrast in visible reflectance and/or transmission between the exposedarea(s) and the non-exposed area(s). FIG. 1 illustrates selectivelyexposing the coating 5 to the UV radiation after the entire coating 5has been deposited (e.g., sputter deposited) on substrate 1; however, itmay be possible to instead perform the UV exposure in order to expose atleast layers 9 and 11 immediately after the layer 11 has been deposited(and/or during deposition of layer 11 ) but before layer 13 and/or 15has been deposited. And the UV exposure may or may not be performed in avacuum chamber in different example embodiments of this invention. Themonolithic coated article of FIG. 1, after being exposed as illustratedin FIG. 1 and as described above, may then be used as a monolithicwindow or alternatively may be used in an IG window unit along with atleast one more glass substrate as shown in FIG. 3.

In such a manner, various images 12 may be selectively written ontocoated glass to be used in windows (e.g., with the outline of “LOGO” inFIG. 4 generally corresponding to the exposed area(s)). Thus, the areasof the thin film coating 5 subjected to the intense UV radiation fromintentional UV radiation source 20 (e.g., masked UV lamp exposure inFIG. 1) create a desired image visible by external viewers and notsignificantly obstructing the view from the inside/interior of abuilding where the window is located. An image can be created onindividual glass panes and/or can be assembled as a glazing using anumber of panes in large buildings. The view from the inside of thebuilding need not be significantly obstructed by the image(s) becauseboth the exposed and non-exposed areas of the coating 5 are transmissiveto visible light and the coating 5 still remains in the exposed areas(and the non-exposed areas), and the difference in visible reflectance,visible transmission, and/or coloration between the exposed andnon-exposed areas need not be great. For example, a small difference invisible reflectance, transmission and/or coloration in the exposed areascompared to the non-exposed areas can be easily seen by the human eye onthe side of a building from a distance of from 50-1,000 yards, but maynot be easily seen from one standing next to the window inside thebuilding. As mentioned above, the image(s) may also or instead beadvantageous in that they also enable windows to be more easily seen bybirds in order to reduce bird collisions with windows and buildings.

The FIG. 2 embodiment is the same as the FIG. 1 embodiment discussedabove, except that the UV exposing is performed in a different manner asthe radiation source 20 in the FIG. 2 embodiment is a UV emitting laser(instead of a lamp) and no mask 22 is needed due to accuracy of the UVradiation beam emitted from the laser 20. For instance, the source 20may be a UV excimer laser or solid state laser in the FIG. 2 embodiment.A programmable laser pattern may be used to selectively exposed desiredareas thereby selectively changing the optical properties of thedesired/exposed areas of the coated article as discussed above. Theemission line at about 355 nm, common for excimer and solid state UVlasers, is absorbed by the seed layer 9 and is poorly absorbed by glass(e.g., up to only about 15% of such UV is absorbed by glass, while muchmore is absorbed by the seed layer). Otherwise, the FIG. 2 embodiment isthe same as discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. Thus, themonolithic coated article of FIG. 2, after being exposed as illustratedin FIG. 1 and as described above, may then be used as a monolithicwindow or alternatively may be used in an IG window unit along with atleast one more glass substrate as shown in FIG. 3, with the exposedarea(s) being visible as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an IG window unitaccording to an example embodiment of this invention, where the IGwindow unit includes the patterned coated article with the image 12 asmade in accordance with either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, theIG window unit includes first substrate 1 and second substrate 3 (e.g.,both can be glass substrates) that are spaced apart from one another atleast by one or more peripheral seal(s) or spacer(s) 26. Optionally, anarray of spacers (not shown) may be provided between the substrates in aviewing area of the window for spacing the substrates from one anotheras in the context of a vacuum IG window unit. The spacer(s) 26, otherspacer(s), and/or peripheral seal space the two substrates 1 and 3 apartfrom one another so that the substrates do not contact one another andso that a space/gap 27 is defined therebetween. The space/gap 27 betweenthe substrates 1, 3 may be evacuated to a pressure lower thanatmospheric in certain example embodiments, and/or may be filled with agas (e.g., Ar) in certain example embodiments. Alternatively, space 27between the substrates 1, 3 need not be filled with a gas and/or neednot be evacuated to a low pressure. In certain example embodiments, itis possible to suspend foil or other radiation reflective sheet(s) (notshown) in the space. When substrate(s) 1 and/or 3 are of glass, eachglass substrate may be of the soda-lime-silica type of glass, or anyother suitable type of glass, and may be for example from about 1 to 10mm thick in certain example embodiments of this invention. The coating5, including the image 12 formed as discussed above in accordance withFIG. 1 or FIG. 2, is formed continuously across substantially theentirety of the supporting substrate and may be located on an interiorside of substrate 1 to face the gap/space 27 as shown in FIG. 3, oralternatively may be located on the interior side of substrate 3 to facethe gap/space 27. In addition to enabling the image to be formedtherein, another example function of solar management coating 5 (e.g.,low-E coating) is to block (i.e., reflect and/or absorb) certain amountsof IR radiation and prevent the same from reaching the buildinginterior. In this respect, the solar management coating 9 includes atleast one IR blocking (i.e., IR reflecting and/or absorbing) layer 11.Example IR blocking layer(s) which may be present in coating 5 are of orinclude silver (Ag), nickel-chrome (NiCr), gold (Au), and/or any othersuitable material that blocks significant amounts of IR radiation. Itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that IRblocking/reflecting layer(s) of solar management coating 5 need notblock all IR radiation, but only need to block significant amountsthereof.

In view of the presence of both IR blocking/reflecting coating (i.e.,solar management coating) 5, IG window units according to certainexample embodiments of this invention as shown in FIG. 3 may have thefollowing solar characteristics (e.g., where the coated glass substrate1 is a substantially transparent soda lime silica glass substrate fromabout 1-6 mm thick, more preferably from about 2 to 3.2 mm thick, andthe other soda lime silica glass substrate 3 is substantiallytransparent and from about 1-6 mm thick, more preferably from about 2 to3.2 mm thick). One or both of the glass substrates may be thermallytempered in certain example embodiments. In Table 1 below, R_(g) Y isvisible reflection from the outside or exterior of the window/building(i.e., from where the sun is located, and R_(f)Y is visible reflectionfrom the interior side (e.g., from within the building interior).

TABLE 1 IG Unit Solar Characteristics Characteristic General PreferredMore Preferred T_(vis) (or TY)(Ill. C., 2 deg.):  >=50%  >= 60%  >= 68%R_(g)Y (Ill. C., 2 deg.): 5 to 17% 7 to 13% 9 to 11% R_(f)Y (Ill. C., 2deg.): 5 to 20% 7 to 14% 10 to 12%  U-value: 0.10 to 0.40 0.20 to 0.300.22 to 0.25

It is noted that certain parameters can be tuned by adjusting layerthicknesses. For example, sheet resistance can be decreased and visibletransmission decreased by increasing the thickness of the silver basedlayer 11 and/or by providing the coating with additional silver basedlayer(s). In certain example embodiments, the coating 5 in the FIG. 1-3embodiments may have a sheet resistance (R_(s)) of no greater than 10ohms/square, more preferably no greater than 8 ohms/square, and mostpreferably no greater than 6 ohms/square.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example image 12 formed by the selective UVexposure of the coating 5 in accordance with any of the FIG. 1-3embodiments.

As used herein, the terms “on,” “supported by,” and the like should notbe interpreted to mean that two elements are directly adjacent to oneanother unless explicitly stated. In other words, a first layer may besaid to be “on” or “supported by” a second layer, even if there are oneor more layers there between.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A method of making a coated article for use in a window, the methodcomprising: having a coated article including a coating supported by asubstrate; directing ultraviolet (UV) radiation toward the coating andexposing only part of the coating to UV radiation in order to form animage in the coating that can be seen by a human eye.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the image comprises a logo.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the image comprises at least one word.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the coating comprises at least one layer comprising silver thatis located over and directly contacting a layer comprising metal oxidethat absorbs UV radiation.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the layercomprising metal oxide has a bandgap of from about 3.15 to 3.4 eV. 6.The method of claim 4, wherein the layer comprising metal oxidecomprises zinc oxide.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the layercomprising metal oxide comprises zinc stannate.
 8. The method of claim4, wherein the layer comprising silver has a higher visible transmissionand/or reduced visible reflectance in area(s) exposed to the UVradiation compared to area(s) of the coating not exposed to the UVradiation so that a shape of the image is substantially defined byarea(s) exposed to the UV radiation.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe coating has a sheet resistance (R_(s)) of no greater than 10ohms/square.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the coating is a low-Ecoating.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the coated article has avisible transmission of at least about 50% before and after saidexposing.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a glasssubstrate.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after saidexposing, coupling the substrate with the coating thereon to anothersubstrate in making an insulating glass (IG) window unit.
 14. The methodof claim 1, wherein said UV radiation is directed toward the coatingfrom at least one source of UV radiation.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the source comprises a UV emitting lamp.
 16. The method of claim14, further comprising providing a mask between the coating and thesource of UV radiation so that opening(s) defined in the mask determinewhich part of the coating is exposed to UV radiation from the source.17. The method of claim 14, wherein the source comprises a UV emittinglaser.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein radiation emitted from thesource consists essentially of UV radiation.
 19. The method of claim 1,wherein the coating comprises at least one layer comprising silverlocated between at least first and second dielectric layers. 20-25.(canceled)